Why You’re Losing Subscribers to Your Blog

If you’re like most bloggers, you probably watch your subscriber count very closely. If you’re doing things right, that number should steadily climb upward. But what if it’s going the other way? What if you’re losing subscribers?

The first thing you need to do is to figure out why you’re losing subscribers. That’s where I can help. This post will outline the most common reasons bloggers lose readers over time. If any of these apply to you, correct them immediately.

• You post irregularly—I subscribe to several blogs by email, and I can tell you that on several occasions I’ve unsubscribed from blogs because they simply never get updated. I understand people get busy, but posting irregularly creates the perception that you don’t take your blog seriously.

• Your topics vary greatly—If one day you’re posting about fantasy football and the next day you’re posting about gardening, you’re going to have a hard time keeping a loyal base of readers. While that’s an extreme example, the point is you need to find a niche you’re passionate about and stick with it. That way, your readers know they’ll always receive posts they’re interested in.

• You don’t research your claims—Even though blogging is much less formal than other forms of writing, that doesn’t mean you can get away with making claims based off shoddy research. If you falsify facts or just say something that’s incorrect, someone will call you out on it. At that point, you’ll lose all credibility.

• You constantly pitch your affiliate products—There are plenty of successful bloggers who are also affiliate marketers. But there’s a very fine line between providing quality content and coming off like a cheap advertisement. No one is subscribing to your blog because they want to be advertised to. They want useful content and your expert insight.

• You don’t listen to your readers—The great thing about blogging is that your readers have an opportunity to get their voice heard and to let you know what they think of your work. Now, I’m not saying you should constantly adjust what you’re doing based on every negative comment someone makes, but you should pay attention to common themes. For example, if a lot of readers constantly complain about the same thing, take a step back and see if maybe they have a point.